Monday, July 6, 2015

What is the significance of the "pile of shirts" in The Great Gatsby?

Daisy's reaction to a pile of shirts on Gatsby's bed is
certainly odd, but in light of what she values in life, it makes some sense.  Daisy's
choices have always been about money, status and materialism.  Daisy might have loved
Gatsby back in their youth, but she is a lady of the upper class who couldn't have
imagined actually marrying someone who didn't have the money or the status to support
her lifestyle and her vision of herself.  She marries Tom because he is the "right kind
of person" for her to marry.  He represents wealth and family name/status.  So when
Daisy sees the pile of expensive shirts, everything she had assumed about Gatsby in
their youth is blown out of the water.  He DOES obtain wealth; he DOES achieve all of
the material goals that Daisy would have required.  Daisy is upset to think that Gatsby,
given enough time, could have been her true love and have fulfilled all of her girlish
thoughts and dreams.  Unfortunately, it is too late.  She is married to Tom, and she
knows, even if she doesn't acknowledge it, that she won't divorce Tom because that is
not accepted in their social circles.  She puts up with Tom's cheating for this reason. 
She will carry on an extra-marital affair with Gatsby for this reason.  What she
realizes though is that she is missing out on perfect happiness -- a man she truly loves
and who loves her unconditionally who has the wealth that she requires.  It is almost as
if she is disappointed in herself for not trusting Gatsby way back in their youth
because now she stuck in this less than satisfactory triangle.  She could have "had it
all," but she doesn't.

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